WordPad’s removal marks the end of the "offline-first" era of Windows accessories. In 2025, the assumption is that a user is either coding (Notepad) or creating content for the cloud (Word/Google Docs). The humble RTF editor is now a relic of computing history, remembered fondly for being the first place many users learned to bold and italicize text.
WordPad, first introduced in 1995, has undergone several transformations over the years. The current version, WordPad 2019, offers a range of features, including: wordpad 2025
To compensate for WordPad's removal, Microsoft has significantly upgraded Notepad. By 2025, it features tabs , spellcheck, and even Markdown support for basic formatting like bolding, italics, and bullet points. WordPad’s removal marks the end of the "offline-first"
While WordPad has remained a popular choice for simple word processing tasks, it lags behind more advanced word processors like Microsoft Word and Google Docs. WordPad, first introduced in 1995, has undergone several
Microsoft cited several reasons for removing the application: